Chess Puzzle #9wDXb — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen f2; rooks a1/e3; knight a3; pawns a2/b2/c3/f3/h4. Black: king e7; rooks g4/h8; bishop c4; knights e5/f4; pawns a7/b7/c6/e6/g6/g7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc4 — knight a3→c4, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rhxh4+ — rook h8→h4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh4+ (queen f2→h4, captures rook, gives check).
3. Best move: Rxh4+ — rook g4→h4, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kg3 (king h2→g3).
4. Best move: Nxc4 — knight e5→c4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, long, middlegame. The key move Rhxh4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7r/pp2k1p1/2p1p1p1/4n3/2b2nrP/N1P1RP2/PP3Q1K/R7 w - - 0 24

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